Dawn Z. Wright, JD, FACHE

Speaker

Dawn Z. Wright, JD, FACHE
SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer
University of Texas Medical Branch

Biography

Dawn Zell Wright has a proven track record of aligning operations strategy with business goals, developing leaders and driving significant, sustainable organizational improvements. She is a transformative leader who brings together complex, growing healthcare systems through strategic partnerships. Her extensive experience includes designing, creating, building and implementing high-functioning, consistent, centralized, agile human resources services and teams. Wright leverages best practices and standardizations to deliver best-in-class solutions, positioning organizations to create incredible employee experiences, lead the market as a best place to work and realize sustainable growth with financial excellence.

Wright previously held executive human resources leadership roles with LCMC (Louisiana Children's Medical Center) Health, CHRISTUS Health, UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) and CommonSpirit Health’s Catholic Health Initiatives Texas Division. Her expertise is further strengthened by her background as an attorney, where she received numerous accolades for her work as a litigator and defense attorney.

As a passionate advocate for inclusion and belonging, Wright is focused on removing artificial barriers to success and building a sustainable pipeline of healthcare leaders reflective of the communities served. Her legal and HR background equips her with a unique perspective enabling her to foster highly reliable organizations for patient outcomes, employee experience and community impact.

Wright earned her undergraduate degree in behavioral science from Concordia University Texas, an MBA from West Texas A&M and a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification.